Method of producing seams in wire fabrics



Jan. 31, 1933. f w BUCHANAN 1,895,605

METHOD OF PRODUCING SEAMS IN WIRE FABRICS Filed May 28, 1951 ATT R N-EY Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM EUGENE BU'CHANAN, 0F APPLETON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 APPLETON WIRE WORKS, INC., OF APPLETON, WISCONSIN, A COBIORATION OF WISCONSIN METHQD 0F PRODUCING SEAMS IN WIRE. FABRICS Application filed May 28, 1931.

The invention relates to a method of producing seams in wire fabrics.

It has heretofore been proposed to obviate the use of a laced seam in a wire fabric, such as a Fourdrinier wire, bysoldering, brazing, or welding together the adjacent edges of the wire fabric. It has also been proposed to construct a soldered or brazed seam embodying special end weft wires coated with solder. However, the methods previously suggested for soldering or brazing together the edges of wire fabrics have been relatively expensive and have resulted in seams of irregular construction and inferior strength.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rapid and economical method of producing narrow, uniform and mechanically strong soldered or brazed seams in wire fabrics and particularly in Fourdrinier wires.

fhe invention further consists in the several features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a seam of a F ourdrinier wire constructed by the method of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1, showing the wire fabric before the seam is completed; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View of the completed seam taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In this drawing, 10 indicates the warp wires of a Fourdrinier wire fabric and 11 the weft wires thereof, the two ends of the fabric to be joined by the seam to form an endless belt being indicated by A and B, respectively. In trimming the ends of the fabric preparatory to forming the seam, the warp wires 10 of the ends A. and B are out along a line parallel to the weft wires. In the present instance, the warp wires 10 of the part A have been cut close to the last weft wire, and the ends of the warp wires in the part B have been cut at some distance from the last weft wire. However, both sets of warp wires may be out either long or short, but the trimming of the warp wires illustrated in the drawing results in a seam which is quite narrow. In this seam the thickness Serial No. 540,815.

in thickness only slightly by the thin deposit of fusible metal.

In the method of this invention, the fabric ends A. and B are spaced as shown in the right-hand portion of Fig. 1, and a strand 12 containing fusible metal is placed between the spaced edges of the fabric. The strand may consists of a thin narrow ribbon of silver solder, or other suitable fusible metal, the plane of the ribbon being substantially perpendicular to the plane of the cloth. The fabric ends are then urged toward each other to bring the edge faces thereof into contact with the opposite side faces of the fusible ribbon 12, as shown in the middle portion of Fig. l and also in Fig. 2. Heat is then applied to the fabric-engaging portions of the ribbon to fuse the metal of the ribbon and thus form a coating 12 firmly uniting the edges of the wire fabric, as seen in the lefthand part of Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 3. At the time of fusion, the fabric ends A and B are urged toward each other, so that only a thin film of fusible metal remains between the closest parts. While the warp ends of the .two parts A and B are shown in the drawing to be in register, it is not essential that they have this relation.

As suggested in Fig. 1, the several steps may be performed simultaneously at different parts of the fabric, the fusible strip being progressively interposed between the spaced edges of the fabric, the edges of the fabric being progressively urged into contact with the strip, and the strip being fused progressively along the strip-engaging edges of the fabric.

The fusible metal in the strip 12 is limited in amount and when fused is uniformly deposited along the edges of the fabric," thus providing a narrow regular seam which is mechanically strong. warp wires are covered by the fused metal, thus producing smoothly rounded surfaces on which pulp particles will not become lodged.

The term edge faces is herein used to distinguish from the opposite side faces of the fabric parts.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of producing a seam in a wire fabric, which consists in interposing a strand containing fusible metal between spacededges of the fabric parts to be joined,

pressing the edge faces of the fabric parts against the respective opposite sides of the strand, and melting the fusible metal of the strand to unite the edges of the fabric parts while the fabric edges are pressed toward each other.

2. The method of producing a seam in a wire fabric, which consists in interposing a thin ribbon of fusible metal between edges of the fabric parts to be joined, placing the edge faces of the fabric parts against the opposite side faces of the ribbon, and fusing the ribbon to unite the edges of the fabric parts.

3. The method of producing a seam in a. wire fabric, which consists in progressively interposing a strand containing fusible metal between spaced edges of the fabric parts to be joined, progressively placing the edge faces of the fabric parts against the respective opposite sides of the strand, and progressively melting the fusible metal of the fabric-engaging portions of the strand to unite the edges of the fabric parts.

4. The method of producing a seam in a wire fabric, which consists in cutting the edges of the fabric parts to be joined, interposing a strand containing fusible metal between the fabric parts, p acing the cut end faces of the fabric wires against respective opposite sides of the strand, and melting the fusible metal of the strand to unite the edges of the fabric parts.

5. The method of producing a seam in a wire fabric, which consists in cutting the fabric parts to be joined parallel to the weft wires to form fabric edges, the warp wires of one fabric part being cut close to the last weft wire and the warp wires of the other fabric part being cut at a distance from the last weft wire, interposing a strand containing fusible metal between the spaced edges of the fabric parts, placing the cut end faces of the warp ends against opposite sides of the strand, and melting the fusible metal of the strand to unite the edges of the fabric parts.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.-

WILLIAM EUGENE BUCHANAN.

The cut ends of the 

